It’s a door in where I normally would not find myself. The choice is mine whether to take the assignment or not. Often I meet amazing people doing extraordinary things. This year, the importance of seeds and relevance to life.

Meet Eric and Ben, Founders of a local hops farm based on freshness. It’s all about how quickly the hops can get from the field to the beer. Mighty Axe Hops beginnings started at Eric’s family farm in Ham Lake and expanded another 80 acres in 2016.

Eric Sannerud and Ben Boo, Founders, Mighty Axe HopsHops, Hamm Lake, MinnesotaHarvesting HopsFresh Hops are a Thing of Beauty with a Citrus AromaHere’s Where the Hoppy-ness ResidesHops Fresh from the Fields are the Best They’ll Ever BeTaste a Little Freshness, Fresh Hops Right into Your Cup

Jonathan & Carolyn Olson work the family farm founded in 1913. They are dedicated to growing organic seed and grain in an area surrounded by convention farmers. The Olson’s were named Farmer of the Year in 2016 and are particularly proud of the hearty organic seed they supply for 100′s of farmers.

Olson’s Family Farm grains are delivered to FOOD BUILDING where Baker’s Field Flour & Bread create delicious handcrafted breads considered the best in the Twin Cities and attributed partly to Olson’s carefully raised grains.

Olson’s grain ready for breadmaking at Baker’s Field Four & Bread at the FOOD BUILDINGDifferent grains create a variety of floursKneading the dough ready for breadmaking at FOOD BUILDING Northeast MinneapolisDelicious whole grain fresh bread at Baker’s Field Flour & Bread, FOOD BUILDING

The Blue Fruit Farm and Prairie Moon Nursery lay alongside the hills and valleys of the beautiful Driftless Region of SE Minnesota. Jim and Joyce Riddle tend to 5 acres of certified organic blueberries, elderberries, aronia berries, black currrants, plums, honeyberries, jostaberries, juneberries and cherry plums. The land is lived on and tended with loving care for ecological balance without any chemicals. Blue Fruit Farm is part of the Wiscoy Valley Community Land Cooperative, a 360 acre land cooperative farmed organic since the mid-1970′s.

Ever wonder how native flower seed is harvested? It’s a delicate hand process. Some of the flowers sit among many prairie plants and are hunted down for their precious seed pods. Prairie Moon Nursery is careful to grow plants from hardy seed that then produces more native flowers, most are important pollen and nectar sources for pollinators.

Laurie has been producing award-winning images for 25 years. She specializes in assignment and special project work that involves story development, animals, people, events and farm to table. When she is not clicking the shutter, Laurie is riding horses or rescuing honeybees. She is proud to be a steward of the land and Founder of the Pollinator Friendly Alliance. Laurie is two time recipient of the Minnesota State Arts Board Artists Alliance Award in 2014 and 2016.